Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-05-15
WOULD BIZ A WIDOW.
FREAK OF A CALIFORNIA HRIRESS.
She Weds Dying Man So as to Become a
Widow,
BUT The DYING man DOESN'T Die,
Thereby Crushing Her Ambition, and There's S
the Rub.

llt huU.
SAN FRANCISCo, May IA detailed
and interesting account of the remarkable
marriage contracted by young lady of
wealth and social position with poor con
sumptive printer, for the express purpose
of attaining the blessed state of widowhood,
is printed by the Examiner, of this city.
The young lady is Miss Lilly F. Brown,
of Oakland. On coming of age, last Octo-
Der, she received n fortune of $50, 600 from
her fathers estate The possession of the
money inspired her with a desire to enjoy
life freed from the constraints imposed
upon young spinsters by social conven-
tionalities.
While living at the Brunswick House, in
Oakland she proposed TO friend, widow
also stopping there, that they take pleas
ure trip to the Yosemite together.
The widow assented, suggesting that If
they could both travel rs widows their en-
ioyment of the trip would be greatly en-
HANGED. "A widow" she slyly insinuated,
''can 90 about with freedom, tlirt and have
lots of fun; but 4 young girl has to he so
careful"
Miss Brown was greatly taken by the
idea. Black would certainly become her
blonde beauty, she knew. If one could
only become widow without first being a
wife! she sighed.
Another friend, Captain Richard Apgar,
who lived with his wife at the hotel, was
taken into the ladies' confidence. When
apprised of the ambition of the young
heireSs, he laughed and said:
"Why, nothing could he easier. There
are hundreds OF men dying in San Fran
cisco all the time I'll find you one.
The would d-be widow hailed the captains
brilliant idea with delight. He proved as
good as his word. Going to DR.. Anson
4. Du Puy, friend of his, he asked that
physician if be knew of a man not likely
TO live more than n couple Of weeks who
would be willing to marry rich maiden
desirOus of changing her state To that OF a
charming young widow.
81 have Just the man." said DIR. Du
Puy. Prank Mckee, a young printer,
whom | am treating for consumption, Is
almost dying. Only your young lady
will have to hurry the nuptals, for he may
not last two days"
Next day the marriage was performed at
the doctors Office by Justice of the
Peace After the ceremony the almost un-
conscious groom was taken back home and
put TO bed.
Since then his bride has been inpatient
| ly waiting for him to die. She has even
provided sums amounting to 81 ,OOO TO
defray the expenses of his supposedly short
remaining span of life and of first class
| funeral when he died. DR.. Du Puy'I in
teresting patient, being provided with all
the luNuries and delicaCies he craved out Of
the money, has evinced a strange and per
sistent inclination to disappoint all the
expectations built upon the strange mar
riage So far from dying he has grown
stout and strong, and evidently has no in
tention of Immediately departing this vale
of tears.
Meeting his bride on the streets n few
weeks ago, he assured her of his abiding
love and expressed ir desire that 'hS bappi-
ness should he crowned by their living to-
gether. To this Mrs. Mckee returned an
indignant refusal. Though the unreason-
able man insisted on living in violation Of
the understanding that he should die
speedily she did not dare to resist his ap-
peal for funds. The secret Of the marriage
was well kept oil this time, though Il
hackmailer had tried To bleed the heircss
| 4 ,r "a fN,,hli.
pealing to counsel she found that she could
do nothing 10 eXtriCate herself from the
dilemma. While her husband lived she
was his wife, and although she could re-
fuse TO live with him she could not obtain
a divorce.
A reporter calling on Mrs. Mckee yes
terday witnessed strange scene. There
was a soft knock at the door, and the lady,
rising to open it, much to her surprise was
confronted hy her husband. He slid into
a chair with a weary, remOrseiul look. Hi,
wife withdrew few feet and, surveying
the intruder, angrily demanded in icy
tones:
"What do you want here, sirH" Before
he could reply Mckee was seized with q
violent fl of coughing. At this Mrs. Nc
KEGS face frightened. Hope shown in
her eyes. But the light died out as Nc
Kee regained his composure and it appear
cd that the spasms were merely the conse-
quence of quid of tobacco lodging in his
throat.
81 lust wanted to let you know that ]
had nothing 10 do with putting it in the
papers," he said in n contrite tone.
With IN exclamation OF disgust Mrs. Nc
Kee seated herself on an ottoman obvious
ly waiting for her unwelcome spouse TO 30.
His Jet black curls and pale, sad face lit
up by mournful eyes of tendercst hazel,
evidently did not interest her. On his
part, setting himself in chair, Mckee
continued To gaze for several minutes with
an expression Of wTapt but wOetul devotion
on the reed-like form Of his young bride.
Rising at last, he held out his hand and
said goodbye"
Goodbye" she answered cOldly, and
without noticing the proliered hand. In
. another moment he was gone.
Promising Young Man.
NEWPORT, r. l., May 14.-It is stated
upon excellent authority that Willie